In 2019, the New York Giants concluded that Eli Manning, their starting quarterback for the past 15 seasons, was nearing the end of his career. Manning had led the team to its only two Super Bowl victories since 1990, both times overcoming the heavily favored New England Patriots.
During the 2007 season, the Patriots entered the Super Bowl with a perfect record—16 regular-season wins and two playoff victories. However, Manning and the Giants denied them a place in NFL history. The Giants’ defense limited the high-powered Patriots offense, which had averaged 36.8 points per game, to just 14. With 35 seconds left, Manning threw a 13-yard touchdown pass to Plaxico Burress, sealing a 17-14 victory.
Four years later, Manning once again defeated the Patriots in the Super Bowl, overcoming their 15-3 record (including playoffs) with a narrow 21-17 win.
Giants Glory Days Are Long Forgotten
Those glory days became a distant memory eight years after Manning’s second Super Bowl win when the Giants selected Duke quarterback Daniel Jones with the sixth overall pick in the NFL Draft. The team had high expectations for Jones, evidenced by their decision to bench Manning—who had started every Giants game since 2005 except for one in 2017—just two weeks into the 2019 season.
However, Jones ultimately became one of the biggest draft busts in NFL history. Over six seasons, he posted a disappointing 22-44-1 record before the Giants finally released him on November 22, 2024. His replacements, Drew Lock and Tommy DeVito, fared no better, though Lock did lead the team to a 45-33 victory over the Colts in Week 17. Despite that win, the Giants finished 3-14, the worst record in the franchise’s 100-year history.
Now, the question remains: who will be their next quarterback? The Giants hold the No. 3 pick in the 2025 draft, but this year’s quarterback class is considered weak. Some mock drafts have them selecting Miami QB Cam Ward, but that assumes the Tennessee Titans, who are expected to draft a quarterback at No. 1, pass on him.
New York Urged to Look to New England for Next QB
According to Giants writer Anthony Nivardo of Empire Sports Media, the team has another potential solution at quarterback—one linked to the very franchise the Manning-led Giants defeated twice in the Super Bowl.
“One name receiving buzz in trade rumors following the conclusion of the NFL regular season is New England Patriots rookie QB Joe Milton III,” Nivardo wrote. “The Patriots selected Milton in the sixth round of the 2024 NFL Draft, despite already drafting Drake Maye with the third overall pick in the same draft. With Maye positioned as the team’s future franchise quarterback, Milton could become expendable and available for trade this offseason.”
Nicknamed “Bazooka Joe” for his powerful arm, Milton has drawn praise for his rare physical talent. NFL.com draft analyst Lance Zierlein described him as a “rare physical specimen” with a cannon for an arm, capable of throwing the ball “as hard or as far as you want.”
Milton showcased that arm strength in his lone rookie start against the Buffalo Bills in Week 18, firing a sidearm pass clocked at 62 mph—the second-fastest throw ever recorded in NFL history.
Beyond his talent, Milton is also a cost-effective option, with three years remaining on a rookie contract worth just $4.2 million.
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